William (Bill) Hoy, Ph.D.

Dr. William G. (Bill) Hoy, D.Min., FT, is a clinical professor of medical humanities in the College of Arts & Sciences at Baylor University and an expert on death, dying and grief.

With nearly 30 years' experience in grief and loss work, Hoy has directed hospice bereavement and pastoral care programs for more than 15 years. Prior to Baylor, he taught on the health science faculty at Cypress College and in the graduate program in thanatology (death and bereavement) at Marian University. He is the author of more than 100 book chapters, journal articles and educational pamphlets and has authored three books.

Hoy is active in leadership of the Association for Death Education & Counseling, chairing its 2013 annual conference in Hollywood, California. Since 2006, he has chaired the organization's networking group on School Crisis Intervention. He holds the Fellow in Thanatology (FT), the advanced practice credential in death, dying and bereavement. He is a frequently-invited keynote and workshop speaker, annually presenting more than 50 continuing education workshops and addresses for professionals in mental health, nursing, education, medicine, funeral service, and ministry.

Hoy is considered an authority on funeral rites from both a cross-cultural and historical perspective, having studied memorial rituals in more than 100 people groups. He is the author of Do Funerals Matter? The Purpose and Practice of Death Rituals in Global Perspective and of the forthcoming Bereavement Groups and the Role of Social Support: Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice (Routledge, 2016).